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Officer's suspension increased to 5 days
By JONATHAN ABEL
Published February 8, 2007
BROOKSVILLE - A Brooks-ville police officer is facing a five-day suspension after putting a gun in his mouth, a gesture he said was to show his exasperation with the political problems in the city. In the last few weeks, the Brooksville Police Department has been at the center of a nasty feud, which led to the city manager's termination and the suspensions of police Chief Ed Tincher, police Lt. Rick Hankins and human resources director Ron Baker. On Jan. 8, the day that the City Council issued those suspensions, Officer John Cavanna was outside the police station with another Brooksville officer talking about the problems in the city, when he put his gun in his mouth to express his frustration with the situation. The other officer reported it to his supervisor. Cavanna was initially given a one-day suspension by Sgt. Duke Maeder, the officer in charge of the department while Tincher and Hankins were on paid leave. But on Tuesday, acting City Manager Steve Baumgartner decided to increase that suspension to five days and to require five counseling sessions for Cavanna. "It is my opinion," Baumgartner wrote, "that this is a much more serious event than Sergeant Maeder had suggested." Cavanna wrote on his disciplinary report that he was "not serious" and "just kidding around in bad taste." The 21-year-old officer, who started with the department in June 2005, is described as "hard-charging" and "aggressive" by Tincher. In addition, Tincher said that there are a number of officers in the department who are eager to report Cavanna every time he makes a mistake. He has had one car accident that was his fault and one verbal reprimand for responding to a call with his fiance, a Brooksville firefighter, in the car, Tincher said. They were going to a report of an unlocked door at the woman's mother's business. "I don't think there was any intention other than it was just his way of kind of making a political statement, just a statement of how fed up everybody is with what's been going on," Tincher said of the gun incident. "The crime he's most guilty of is that he respects and supports me." Jonathan Abel can be reached at jabel@sptimes.com or 352 754-6114.
[Last modified February 8, 2007, 06:45:15]
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by keith
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02/08/07 07:16 PM
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I think they should fire this officer,even if he was kidding,whats fair for him should be for others.He aressted me for protecting my famly and was very unproffesional!!
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by Sherrie
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02/08/07 01:28 PM
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I do not blame the council wanting protection from someone that would try and clarify this mans action when he cannot claify his own. How safe will you feel in a town that has immature officers to protect it. Lord have mercy on us all.
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by sue
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02/08/07 12:28 PM
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I thought police officers are people our children are to look up to and learn by their great examples??? sounds to me like this officer is still a child whose parents should have taughter better regarding gun control or shall I say self control!!!
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by Dawn
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02/08/07 11:20 AM
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Maybe his fellow officers are eager to report him because he obviously is not a responsible police officer!
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by people who are sick of you
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02/08/07 10:48 AM
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How about this for a political statement.We the people of Brooksville deserve and demand competent,mentally fit leadership,something you obviously are willing to exchange for personal admiration and support.Say Goodnight ED.
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by Alison
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02/08/07 10:20 AM
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Anyone who would put a gun in their mouth obviously has seriuos problems,I don't want that officer on the streets this is ridiculous, he and his chief sould be fired immediately.God help us.
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by Dave
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02/08/07 10:07 AM
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I see Chief, as long as your officers respect you and support you they can do anything, what a great tidbit of wisdom, perhaps maybe the young officer already has figured out that as long as he supports you he can do whatever he pleases, Great Job
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by Jim
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02/08/07 10:02 AM
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I guess the Brooksville Police Department will hire anyone as long as their "Loyal" and Have "Respect".Good luck Citizens,I guess this is another example of the rigourous psycological examination and background check required to be a Brooksville Cop
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by Paul
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02/08/07 09:59 AM
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As a young man when my father exposed me to gun safty the first thing I was tought was to always asume a gun was loaded and not to point it at anyone for any reason.Common sense would dictate that this individual has serious mental issues.
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by Bob
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02/08/07 07:30 AM
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The 21-year-old officer, who started with the department in June 2005, is described as "hard-charging" and "aggressive" by Tincher.
Wow. This guy is going around with a gun? Scary.
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